In a show of community spirit, residents young and old rallied round to clean up their neighbourhood in a mass litter pick.

Starting at Southgate Community Centre and covering the Nowton estate, the group filled about 10 sacks with rubbish and recovered a large number of glass bottles from the bushes behind the centre.

Those who took part included waste officers from St Edmundsbury Borough Council, Havebury Housing Partnership, two police officers and a PCSO, Nowton Neighbourhood Residents Association, the school council from Hardwick Middle and Hardwick Primary youngsters.

Cllr Sarah Stamp, who has organised litter picks in the area once a quarter with Cllr Patrick Chung since 2011, said the initiative is having an impact and helps teach children not to litter.